Ridin' in the rain

[OakLeaf]

Or if you don't like aerosols, you can wax the frame with a non-abrasive car wax. I do mine once or twice a year, to protect the finish.

[Crankin]

It's amazing my bike is still "alive." Of course, I don't ride in the rain (unless a shower starts while I am out there). Every few weeks (months?) I say to DH, "When was the last time we lubed the chains?" Since my bike runs perfectly, I don't obsess on it.

[Eden]

Or if you don't like aerosols, you can wax the frame with a non-abrasive car wax. I do mine once or twice a year, to protect the finish.

Pedro's "Bike Lust" rocks - its a pump, not an aerosol and I think its silicone based.

It's amazing my bike is still "alive." Of course, I don't ride in the rain (unless a shower starts while I am out there). Every few weeks (months?) I say to DH, "When was the last time we lubed the chains?" Since my bike runs perfectly, I don't obsess on it.

If you don't ride in the wet you can get away with this.... but rain riding on a regular basis is hard on a bike. I've had the same wheels and drive train on my race bike for about 5 years and they're just starting to get to the point where I'm keeping an eye on the wear indicators. My rain bike has been through about 4 sets of rims, countless brake pads, 3 sets of pulleys and needs a new big ring in the same amount of time..... I generally rinse (gently - no high pressure water!) my bike off after a rain ride, then dry and lube it.

Oh - and all the junk on your legs... probably came off the front wheel... even if you have on fenders, without a nice generous flap attached too, you'll still get dirty.

[Catrin]

Thanks for the tips - and Eden thanks for the note about flaps on my fenders. Will look into that this week when my fenders are installed.

[Crankin]

Yes, riding in the rain does cause an awful lot of wear and tear. When DS was racing and training, there were innumerable problems due to his training in all weather. I do keep an eye out for deterioration in all parts, though. The few mechanical things/parts that have broken, have been sudden things, like when my shifter cable broke going up a huge hill (thankfully, I was already in my granny, but not the low cog I needed). I have been on wet rides a bit more on my Jamis Coda, though, since I am more apt to go out to do errands with an iffy forecast; I need to take better care of that bike, though it is properly lubed, etc.

[Eden]

I had my rear derailleur cable snap going up a hill once.... I had been taking it easy, spinning - some dude had just passed me. Then my rear derailleur cable broke and immediately slipped me into my highest gear...... nothing to do but stand up and gut it out.... dude probably wondered what games I was up to, suddenly standing and cranking back by him like that.